Intraspecific variation in estrogen receptor alpha and the expression of male sociosexual behavior in two populations of prairie voles
Abstract
Estrogen (E) regulates a variety of male sociosexual behaviors. We hypothesize that there is a relationship between the distribution of estrogen receptor alpha (ERalpha) and the degree of male social behavior. To test this hypothesis, ERalpha immunoreactivity (IR) was compared in prairie voles (Microtus ochrogaster) from Illinois (IL), which are highly social, and Kansas (KN), which are less social. The expression of androgen receptors (AR) in males also was compared between populations. The expression of ERalpha and AR were compared in brains from KN and IL males and females using immunocytochemistry (ICC). There were significant intrapopulational differences, with males expressing less ERalpha-IR than females in the medial preoptic area, ventromedial nucleus, ventrolateral portion of the hypothalamus, and bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BST). IL males also displayed less ERalpha-IR in the medial amygdala (MeA) than IL females. While IL males expressed significantly less ERalpha-IR in the BST and MeA than KN males, there was no difference in AR-IR. Differences in the pattern of ERalpha-IR between KN and IL males were behaviorally relevant, as low levels of testosterone (T) were more effective in restoring sexual activity ...Continue Reading
References
Gonadal hormone actions on the morphology of the vasopressinergic innervation of the adult rat brain
Estradiol, but not dihydrotestosterone, in the medial amygdala facilitates male hamster sex behavior
Cooperative breeding and monogamy in prairie voles: influence of the sire and geographical variation
Citations
Chronic social isolation enhances reproduction in the monogamous prairie vole (Microtus ochrogaster)
Social environment alters central distribution of estrogen receptor alpha in juvenile prairie voles.
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